Playing-cards.



J. W. CULP.

PLAYING CARDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 191-5.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

X .3? H J 9/ a M m a J m 67 a 6 F 2. m m a Jenn W. com, :or MIsnnw xA, INDIANA.

PLA I ARD Specification of Letterslaten't.

ratentea'.oet.;131,f1;91e.

Application filed. February 4,1915. jSeria1No. 6,037.

ToaZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1 JOHN W. GULF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mishawaka, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulI-mprovements inIlayin'g-Cards, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in games, and particularly to a series of game playing elements, such as cards,

blocks, or the like, arranged in series by characteristic face markings, with all of such elements having back markings identical one with the other except in a single detail, as for example, in size, the selection of the cards in playing a game being controlled by the back markings.

The improved game contemplates a pack or number of cards, blocks, or the like, ar-

. ranged in sequence, each card having uniform face markings, with the exception of a single detail, as for example, the representation of a dial indicating divisions of time, in which the location of the time indicating hands only vary one with the other and establish a sequence distinguishing one card from another, and each of such elements or cards having uniform back markings distinctive only by relative size variation in such markings, whereby there will be a dis tinct size of back marking for each division of time as represented by the face markings.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents the face view of one of the series of playing elements used in the improved game. Fig. 2 is a back view of the same element. Fig. 3 shows the back view of a card or element illustrating diagrammatically the relative variation of size of the back markings as they individually appear throughout the series of cards or elements.

In carrying out my invention, I produce a number of playing elements, such as cards, blocks or the like, as 1, each of which bears on its face the representation of a time dial 2, the circle of which is graduated to represent twelve equal divisions representing the hours consecutively numbered from 1 to 12 inclusive, as shown, each hour being subdivided into four equal parts representing the quarter, halfand three-quarter periods of the hour. The dial is thus graduated to represent forty-night divisions of time, and each element of the game will represent one of said periods ;of time,so that the'nu-mber of elements used :in "playing the :game will equal the distinctive divisions of time indicated. The face markings of all ofthe elements will thus be identical, with the exception that the hour hand 3 and the minute hand 4 will point so as to individually indicate one of each of the forty-eight divisions of time represented by the dial.

The backs of the cards or elements will be uniform in their markings, with the ex ception of a variation in the size of such markings, there being one size of marking for each variation of time indicated on the face of the card or element, thus making forty-eight size variations to correspond with the forty-eight divisions of time, the

.size variations of the back markings being diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3. The actual design used as a back marking is shown in Fig. 2, same representing the rising sun, as at 55, the parallel lines 66 representing the horizon, same being shown in duplicate and oppositely faced for con venience in viewing the same from either of two directions. Each variation in size of the semi-circle representing the sun means a variation of one-quarter hour in the time indicated on the face of the cards or elements. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the time indicated is 1 :30, or six quarters after 12 :00, and the corresponding back marking of the same card, as shown in Fig. 2, is the sixth largest semi-circle, the smallest semi-circle would thus represent 12:15, and the largest semi-circle 12:00 oclock.

In playing the game, the object is to rely solely on the ability of the player to select a card indicating a given time by the size of the back marking thereon, a portion of the deck being distributed to the players and the remainder being turned face down. One of the various games that may be played is to consider the four cards representing the hourly divisions as a book, as for example, the cards representing the hour 1:00, 1 :15, 1 and 1:45 constituting a book, thus making twelve books in all. Four cards are then dealt out to each player, and the remainder of the pack turned face down, each having the privilege in their proper order of drawing a card from the deck or taking up the card last discarded by the preceding player, and the player who suc ceeds in perfecting the most books is declared the Winner.

The playing elements of my improved game not only provide means for develop- 1 ing skill in the art of making eye-measurements in order to accurately determine the relative sizes of objects, but also combines instruction With pleasure for the purpose of teaching children how to tell the time of day by reference to any timepiece.

VVhat'is claimed is:

A series of game playing elements having face markings representing a dial indicating divisions of time, hands indicating relative variations of time on the respective elements, and back markings varying in size respectively throughout the series, each variation in size of the back markings corresponding with a given variation in the time indicated on the face markings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

vJOHN W. CULP. Witnesses L. V. Coon, GEORGE J. OL'rsoI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

